Steam-generator.



No. 655,274. Patented Aug. 7, I900.

R. RAMSDEN.

STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application filed Nov. 23, 1899.) (No Model.)

I I 1 J 39 1 J JL Witnesses. Inventor.

M4514 W I I A ttorney? NITED STATES,

PATENT Felon.

STEAM-G EN ERATOR.-

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. $55,274:, dated August'7, 1900.

Application filed November 23, 1899. Serial No. 737,993. (No model.)

To to wit/07m it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT RAMSDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam or GasGenerators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by means of whichliquids may be generated rapidly and at slight expense into steam orother gas. I

Speaking generally, my invention consists in the following improvements:first, the form of the generator or boiler and the means for introducingthe liquid into the generator, where it is to be formed into steam orgas; second, in the material which is placed in r the incoming passagesand the interior of the partially in section, of the generator or boilerand its inolosing case.

The boiler consists, essentially, of the shell A, provided on two sideswith the projecting rib A and on two other sides with projecting cones AThe wall of this boiler is made of sufficient thickness to allow theproper amount of heat to be absorbed and retained, and the purpose ofthe projections and cones, which, as shown in 'the drawings, arestaggered, is to cause the heat, which is produced from a suitablesource of supply, to circulate around the surface or shell A in order toproperly heat the same. Through the two sides of the shell of thisboiler are formed passages D and D, the passage D opening at the bottominto a transverse passage E, while the passage D opens into a transversepassage E, these two passages E and E crossing each other, as shown inFig. 3. From these passages E and E extend vertical passages F, openinginto the interior of the boiler or generator. The ends of the passages Eand E are closed by means of caps or plugs K.

D is a pipe connected with the source of liquid-supply and the passageD. D is also a pipe connected with thesource of liquidsupply and thepassage D. The liquid to be generated into steam or gas is fed in anydesired manner through the pipes D and D With the apparatus so fardescribed it will be seen that theincomin g liquid is distributed intothe interior of the boiler or generator at a plurality of points, and,moreover, is so distributed in a somewhat comminnted form and is broughtto a considerable heat, if not to vapor, before it reaches the interiorof the boiler, being subject to heat in its passage through the passagesD D E E. In order to provide for still further comminution of the liquidin its passage through these passages, I fill the passages with amaterial which is new with me for this purpose and which produces veryadvantageous results. This material which I use is metal gauze or wiremeshing, preferably of copper, although I have used iron with goodresults. Either in addition to this or as a substitute I use carborundumin a granular or finely-divided condition. The preferable manner is touse alternate layers of the'wire mesh or gauze and carborundum, the wiremesh being pressed into close continuity. These materials I have foundhighly efficient. The carborundum is practically infusible,non-oxidizable, and insoluble, except under extraordinary conditions,and therefore always presents a multitude of heating-surfaces to act onthe liquid in its passage. The same is true of the wire mesh in that itpresents a multitude of surfaces to act upon the liquid and while possibly oxidizable it is impossible to oxidize it carborundum H, althoughthe interior of the boiler, like the pipes, may be filled entirely withcarborundum or with the wire mesh.

0 represents the outlet for the gas or steam.

B is the cover for the top of the boiler, and J represents an asbestoscovering which may be placed around the side and top of the boiler. Thisis done by providing a hollow sheet-iron casing I, around which theasbestos is packed the casing I contacting closely at the sides with theprojections from the boiler, but leaving a space at the top.

I is a pipe or tube to carry off the products of combustion after havingpassed around the boiler or generator.

If desired, the boiler may be divided into compartments, as shown in thedrawings, by means of the cross-walls A. This is valuable, especially inlarge-sized generators, to enable the heat of the walls A to bedistributed throughout the whole space of the interior of the generator.

The operation is as follows: The liquid to be generated into gas orsteam is' fed in proper manner into the pipes D and D through which itpasses to the passages D D, respectively, thence to'the passages E E,and thence through the passages F into the interior of the boiler, upwhich it passes and escapes as steam or gas through the tube 0. As maybe seen, from the very point of its entrance into the passages D D untilits exit at the pipe 0 the liquid is comminuted both by the material inthe passages D D andE E, the plurality of passages F, and the materialin the interior of the boiler. At the same'time it is subjected to theheat absorbed by the boiler from the products of combustion-from thetime of its entrance into the passages D and D until it passes out ofthe pipe 0. By this construction the liquid is not only subjected toheat during its-entire passage and for a considerable period of time,but is subjected to this heat throughout its wholetime in afinely-comminuted condition.

-Of .course I'do not intend to limit my invention, except wherein thesame is specifically claimed, to the use of carborundum or wire mesh inthe passages D D, as one part of my invention consists in theconstruction of passages for delivering the liquid into the interior ofthe boiler and subjecting it to heat duringsuch delivery; nor do Iintend to limit myself to the use of alternate layers of carborundum andwire mesh, as my improvement is applicable to a construction in whicheither carborundum or wire mesh alone is used, the use of both inalternate layers having, however, certain advantages.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is-

1. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a passage in thewall of said vessel, a plurality of passages, passing through the wall,connecting the passage in the wall with the interior of the vessel.

2. A steam or gas generator comprising a vessel the walls of which areadapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, passagesin the wall of saidvessel and a plurality of passages, passingthrough the wall,-connectingthe passages in the wall with the interior of the vessel.

3. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a passage in thevertical wall of said vessel, a transverse passage in the lower wall ofsaid vessel, and a plurality of passages passing through the wall andconnecting the transverse passage with the interior of the generator.

4;. A steam orgas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, avplnrality ofpassages inthe'verticalwall of said vessel, 1

hollow vessel the walls of which are adapted to be subjected exteriorlyto heat, passages, containing carboru nd um, in the vertical wall ofsaid vessel and communicating-with theinterior thereof through aplurality of passages.

7. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a passage,

containing carborundum, in the vertical wall of'said vessel, atransverse passage in the lower wall of said vessel communicating'withsaid last-mentioned passage, and a plurality of passages leading fromthe transverse passage to the interior ofthe generator.

8. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a plurality ofpassages, containing carborundum, in the vertical wall of said vessel, aplurality of transverse passages in thelower wall of said vesselcommunicating with said last-mentioned passage, each transversepassagehaving a plurality of passages into the interior of the boiler.

9. A steam-or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat,'a passage,containing wire mesh,in the wall of-said vessel and communicating withthe interior thereof through a plurality of passages.

10. A steam or gas generator comprising-a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, passages,containing wire mesh, in the wall of said vessel and communicating withthe interior thereof through a plurality of passages.

11. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a passage,containing wire mesh, in the vertical wall of said vessel, a transversepassage in the lower wall of said vessel communicating with saidlast-mentioned passage, and a plurality of passages leading from thetransverse passage to the interior of the generator.

12. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a plurality ofpassages, containing wire mesh, in the vertical wall of said vessel, aplurality of transverse passages in the lower wall of said vesselcommunicating with said last-mentioned passages, each transverse passagehaving a plurality of passages leading into the interior of thegenerator.

13. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a passage,containing alternate layers of carborundum and wire mesh, in the wall ofsaid vessel and communicating with the interior thereof through aplurality of passages.

14. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, passages,containing alternate layers of carborundum and wire mesh, in the wallof'said vessel and communicating with the interior thereof through aplurality of passages.

15. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a passage,containing alternate layers of carborundum and wire mesh, in thevertical wall of said vessel, a transverse passage in the lower wall ofsaid vessel, communicating with said lastmentioned passage,and apluralityof passages leading from the transverse passage to the interiorof the generator.

16. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat, a plurality ofpassages, containing alternate layers of carborundnm and wire mesh, inthe vertical wall of said vessel, a plurality of transverse passages inthe lower wall of said vessel communicating with said last mentionedpassa es, each transverse passage having a plurality of passages leadinginto the interior of the generator.

17. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel, the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat and provided withan inlet for the liquid and an outlet for the gas or steam, the interiorof said vessel between the inlet and outlet containing carborundum andwire mesh.

18. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat and provided withan inlet for the liquid and an out= let for the gas or steam, theinterior of said vessel containing alternate layers of carborundum andwire mesh.

19. A steam or gas generator comprising a hollow vessel the walls ofwhich are adapted to be subjected exteriorly to heat and provided on itsinterior with crosswalls of heatconducting material extending from thewalls of the vessel across the interior.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 17th day of November, 1899.

ROBERT RAMSDEN.

Witnesses:

M. F. ELLIS, J. M. SHINDLER, Jr.

